Australia wins but hosts go down in Polocrosse World Cup

AUSTRALIA has started its campaign to win back the Polocrosse World Cup with a 22-11 victory against United Kingdom on the first day of competition in South Africa.

The Australian team includes two Queensland-based players, Lauren Cant from the Cunningham club and Trent Collins from Tansey. Cant played for Western Australia in last year's nationals before moving to Queensland.

Cant played in the number 2 position in the first chukka on day 1 and Collins started at number 3 for Australia, an indication of what might be in store for the pair at the cup.

In World Cup polocrosse, player changes can be made at the end of each chukka and it is likely every player will have some time on the sidelines as only three of the four men and three of the four women in each section are on the field in any chukka.

Zambia wasn't even in the first two World Cups but caused the greatest upset in World Cup history with a win against defending champions and hosts South Africa.

The South African team is captained by Gavin Cocker who is well known from being involved in World Cups in Warwick, a town which hosted the first two cups in 2003 and 2007. The 2011 cup was in England.

Depending on the next two days of play, Zambia could top their pool and if Australia tops the other pool, that could put Australia head-to-head against South Africa in a semi final if the hosts and Zambia both win their final two round games. Both South Africa and Zambia could have tough games against New Zealand.

In the other games on day 1, New Zealand beat United States and Zimbabwe beat Ireland.

Australia plays Ireland later today (Saturday) in South Africa and Zimbabwe in what could be their toughest first round game tomorrow. (Sunday)

The cup is being played on two successive weekends, this Friday, Saturday and Sunday and the same three days next week.